Powder dispensing shoehorn



Nov. 26, 1940. J. .1. NHBERMOTT POWDER DISPENSING SHOEHORN Fil ed Aug, 18, v1939 Joseph JM$$2Z0II ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 26, 1940 UNITED STATES POWDER DISPENSING SHOEHORN Joseph J. McDermott, Bronx, N. Y.

Application August 18, 1939, Serial No. 290,771

3 Claims.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a shoehorn that ejects powder into the shoe and over the inner sole thereof as it is used, which may also be used in injecting powder into a shoe. The invention is a shoehorn having a powder compartment incorporated therein with inlet and outlet openings and means for ejecting powder through the outlet openings independently or as the shoehorn is used.

It is often desired to use powder on the interior of shoes, and this generally necessitates using a can of powder and shaking it in theshoe, or, where separate devices are used, they are comparatively expensive for the purpose, and, therefore, it is desirable to provide a common shoehorn with a powder reservoir and openings so that powder may readily be injected in the shoe thereby.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide a shoehorn adapted to eject powder into a shoe.

Another object is to provide a shoehorn for automatically ejecting powder into the shoe as it is used.

Another object is to provide a shoehorn from which powder may be ejected as a bellows or the like. I

A further object is to provide a shoehorn having a powder container in combination therewith so that powder may readily be forced through relatively small passages at the tip of the horn.

And a still further object is to provide a powder containing shoehorn which is of a simple and economical construction.

With these ends in View the invention embodies a shoehorn having a powder reservoir therein with a passage or passages from the reservoir to the tip of the horn,'with openings in the face of the tip communicating with the passages, and with means for creating a pressure therein for ejecting powder therefrom.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view showing a side elevation of a shoehorn with part broken away illustrating a shoe-horn formed with two layers of material in which the lower ends are hinged together.

Figure 2 is a View showing a front elevation of the shoehorn shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail illustrating a cross-section through the horn shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 illustrates a rear view of the upper end of the shoehorn showing a filling opening therein.

Figure 5 illustrates a shoehorn of an alternate design in which the powder reservoir is in the form of a bulb at the upper end.

Figure 6 is a detail showing a cross-section through the'device shown in Figure 5."

Figure 7 is a viewillustrating another modification with the horn portion solid and with a resilient button by which pressure may be created.

Figure 8 is a section through the horn portion of the device shown in Figure '7, showing the relatively small passages therein.

Figure 9 illustrates another modification in which the upper end of the shoehorn is provided with a bulb made of rubber or the like.

Figure 10 is a detail showing an alternate arrangement in which means is provided for opening and closing the outlet openings.

In the drawing the device is shown as it may be made, wherein numeral l illustrates the front portion of a shoehorn, numeral 2, the rear portion, and numeral 3, a powder reservoir.

In the design illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, parts I and 2 are hinged together at the point A, and the lower end of the part I is provided with perforations 5, and it will be noted that, as the two parts are squeezed together when the shoehorn is placed between the heel of the foot and heel of the shoe, the part 2 will be moved against the part I, and any powder in the lower part thereof will be ejected through the perforations 5, and then, when the shoehorn is withdrawn, additional powder from a reservoir 3 may drop downward into the horn portion. In this design the edges of the parts I and 2 are formed with overlapping flanges 6 and 1, however, it will be understood that the edges may be formed in any manner, or any means may be provided for connecting the edges which will provide a bellows action. In this design the upper end of the part 2 is held under a flange 8 at the upper end of the part I, permitting a sliding movement between the parts, however it will be understood that the upper edges may be held together in any manner. The upper end of the part 2 may also be provided with a reservoir 3, and this may have a filling opening 9 therein with a cover plate l0 pivotally mounted on a pin II and provided with a button I2 limiting the movement thereof, and at the same time making it possible to open the opening 9 for filling.

In the design shown in Figure 5 the lower part or horn portion of the device is somewhat similar to that shown in Figure 1, except that the edges of the front portion 13, similar to the part I, are flanged with the edges of the back I4, similar to the part 2, extending under the flanges which are indicated by the numerals l5 and I6, and it will be noted that, as the shoehorn is used, the part l4 being of a springy material will move forward, forcing air and any powder in the space between the compartments outward through the perforations l1 similar to the perforations 5. The part l4 extends upward on the point l8, and the upper end is provided with a reservoir l9 having a filling opening 20 therein, with a cover plate 2| similar to the opening9 and cover plate l0, and it will be understood that a filling opening of any type or-design may be provided. The lower portion of the part I9 is provided with a cross partition 22 having an opening 23 therein, and a spring flap 24 is positioned below the opening forming a valve, with the flap 24 normally extending downward permitting powder to be shaken from the reservoir l9 downward between the parts [3 and [4. However, when the parts are squeezed together, the flap 24 will cover the opening 23 forming a check valve.

In the design shown in Figure '7, the shoehorn is made very similar to that shown in Figure 5, except that the horn portion 25 is solid, and this is provided with small passages 26 extending downward to points adjacent the tip, and the upper bulb portion or reservoir 21 is provided with a button 28, the edges of which may be cemented around an opening 29, and a filling plug 30 threaded inithe opposite side, and it will be noted that, as the button 28 is pressed inward, it will force powder from the reservoir 21 downward through the passages 26.

The shoehorn illustrated in Figure 9 is also similar except that the upper portion is made separate and independent, and this is formed of a bulb 3| similar to the bulb of a perfume atomizer, with a narrow neck-portion 32 thereof frictionally held over a nipple 33 in the end of the shoehorn 34, the shoehorn 34 being provided with small openings 35 similar to the passages 26, and it will be noted that, as the bulb 3| is squeezed, powder will be forced out of the lower end or tip of the shoehorn.

The powder may be contained in a reservoir 36 which may be formed in the shoehorn as shown in the drawing, or attached thereto or provided in combination therewith, and it will be noted that, as air is forced inward by the bulb, the

powder will force downward into the shoehorn and out through the perforations.

In the design shown in Figure 10 the device is provided with an inner sliding member 31 hearing against the inner surface of the front 38, and with the upper end 39 extending through the back 40 providing a slide valve. The lower end 4| is adapted. to cover openings 42 in the front 38, and the end 39 extends through an opening 43. The opening maybe sealed by a sliding washer 44 or any suitable means.

It will be understood that other changes may be made in the construction without departing from the spirit of the invention. One of which changes may be in the use of this device in a shoehorn of any other type or description, another may be in the method of incorporating a powder reservoir in a shoehorn, and still another may be in the use of other means for ejecting powder from the shoehorn.

The construction will be readily understood from -the foregoing description. In use a shoehorn may be provided of 'any type or. design, and ,when provided as the bellows type it may be used in the usual manner, and, as it is used, it will automatically inject powder-into the shoe below the foot. It can also be used independently to inject powder in the shoe before the'foot is placed therein, and may also be used for other purposes.

From the foregoing description, it will be noted that it is immaterial how the shoehorn is made or of what material it is made, as any means may be provided in any typeof shoehorn for holding powder therein, so that the powder may be ejected therefrom, and the powder may be ejected automatically or manually as may be desired.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. A shoehorn having a hollow thin body, said body having a footengaging face curved transversely and longitudinally, said face having perforations therein at its lower end, and means for creating pressure within said body for forcing a substance that may be contained therein through said perforations.

2. A device as described in claim 1, having means closing said perforations.

3. A device as described in claim 1, having a filling opening therein and a closure therefor.

JOSEPH J. McDERMO'IT. 

